T23 does not power up!!

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AllTPedOut · #1 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:29 pm

I have a T23 that does not power up. It does not exhibit any BOD behaviors. I have left the battery and AC adapter disconnected overnight and still nothing. The backup (CMOS) battery was swapped out but still no change. Before I disassemble the entire machine, any other suggestions or course of action?

TIA

#2 Post by **rkawakami** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:55 pm

Power problems have many possible sources. Start with the basics before tearing the system apart:

- does the power/battery/charge LED light up when the AC adapter is plugged in and the battery installed? If yes, then that should mean that the adapter and battery are working. Otherwise:

- if you have a voltmeter, check the end of the AC adapter and verify that it shows about 16.5V DC.
- if you don't have a voltmeter, try another (proper) adapter
- same goes for the battery; measure the voltage and/or try another one if available.
- if none of those things are possible, then begins the fun part...

It's possible that if you get the power LED to light up but the system does not respond to the power button, then the cable from the keyboard to the motherboard may have become disconnected. You can open up the system OR if you have a port replicator or docking station, mount the laptop into that and use the port rep's/dock's power button. If that works, then odds are the keyboard cable is at fault.

If you have verified your sources of power are working and the keyboard is properly inserted into the motherboard, then it gets a little harder to pin down what's wrong, other than saying the motherboard is at fault.

It's also possible that you have a problem with the DC input jack. If it has broken, that would prevent the AC adapter from powering the system and you may have completely drained the battery. Again, putting the system onto a port rep/dock will bypass that DC input jack and let you power up the system.

phool@round · #3 Post by **phool@round** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:10 am

It does not exhibit any BOD behaviors.

T23's so far haven't been afflicted with the "Blink of Death"=BOD. (Nothing is impossible, fingers crossed......) That is a completely as of yet
unresolved issue involving the T20-T22's.

There is a sticky posted at the top of this forum that describes the T23's main problem if Ray's suggestions don't get you up and running first.

When you say that it doesn't power up does the power light come on but the screen stays dark, no cooling fan heard?

AllTPedOut · #4 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 7:53 am

Ray & phool@round,
Thank you both for your input. Still trying to tshoot the issue, and here's some more info.
It appears that the T23 is getting power since it actually charged the battery, and the only led that lights up is the battery indicator (change from amber to green)
I also reseated the keyboard which did not help. (I guess I should try another keyboard too)

Ray, that's a great "think out of the box" idea of using the port rep to check the power switch. I'll try that later tonight when I get home.. I always marvel at your wealth of knowledge, first hand experience and willingness to share those of us in distress!!

Phooll@round,
I wish there were more signs of life, but sadly only the battery indicator lights up and nothing else. I glanced through the sticky but nothing stood out. I'll take a closer look tonight.

The lappy is in pretty good shape overall and I don't want to waste it as a T2x charging station (Ray, you don't have any of those, do you??

) so perhaps I may end up transplanting components with some other T23s and have spare parts that the other forum members may be interested in buying.

Many thanks,
Samson

Website · #5 Post by **tfflivemb2** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 8:46 am

Do you hear the fan spin? If so, is it constant or does it pulse?

AllTPedOut · #6 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:02 am

Steve,

No fan movement at all....

thanks
Samson

phool@round · #7 Post by **phool@round** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:40 am

I have a couple of other suggestions you might try tonight.

Check that the processor cooling fan is plugged in.....that will keep it from booting up, in a heart beat.

Removing the minipci card and edc (ethernet daughter card) and rebooting. (When they short it proves the HMM wrong everytime.)

Swapping out the DIMM for another PC133 DIMM if you have one. (Not likely- no beeps but power indicator will light, system won't fire up.)

Holding down the power button for 10 seconds while the battery is removed, power brick unplugged. - resets the BIOS - you did replace the CMOS. (Just for sh*T's and grins.)

Shaking the system to see if you hear a rattling sound - checks if a component has come off the system board. (Relieves pent up frustration too, just don't let it get the best of you where you toss it at the wall.)

I have my hunch what it is but you'd have to strip it to the bones first, I can wait.

AllTPedOut · #8 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 10:12 am

Hmm, I will check the fan tonight but I did pull out the minipci but not the edc, so that's another option. The DIMMS were pulled previously but no effect. Same for the 10 sec bios reset and no loose parts as far as I can tell.

I've never stripped a Thinkpad to barebones, but there's always a first time

I'll let you know tonight what I find

Thanks again for your help!

AllTPedOut · #9 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:01 pm

Well, it's not looking too good so far...

I tried the TP in a dock and same indication: battery light only and nothing else. I pulled out the dimms, minipc, edc, batteries, keyboard and ac adapter. Nada, zilch....

I took a closer look at the power connector (the one with two red and two white wires which runs from the power connector to the systemboard) and i thought it had some buildup which I cleaned off, but still nothing...

Nothing loose or broken internally...

So either it is a bad mobo, or phool@round will have one last suggestion!

thanks
Samson

phool@round · #10 Post by **phool@round** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 11:53 pm

*BING*......one last suggestion.......

It's time to bring in the stripper.......

You'll be looking for a birthmark...... I.. mean a component.

This scan courteousy of the benevolent Ray Kawakami; http://www.rkawakami.net/ibm_t2x/mobo_top_72_legend.jpg

You'll be looking for a coil that sits in the A-1/A-2 intersection (it's missing in the scan, find Waldo sort of thing). It's the main voltage regulator. It sits on three double legged pads. One of those leg-pairs on your board is most likely lifted or the solder is cracked. The coil may even be entirely off it's pads, it sits so snug in the surrounding enclosure that it won't usually rattle when the laptop is shook, so no suprizes so far.

You'll need a strong light and a decent magnifying glass to check for the cracked solder joint at the leg/pad connection.

I have another suggestion.........but it can wait till near the end of the show.......

#11 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:11 am

I really ought to re-scan another (complete) T23 motherboard

. The inductor that's missing was transferred into the HNU I'm currently typing on. That same motherboard in the scan is now also missing another inductor near the video chip since I had a system which didn't charge the battery.

phool@round · #12 Post by **phool@round** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:37 am

Nah, the scans you've produced even with an MIA part or two are far better than none when trying to reference (help) locate the what and where to someone who isn't familiar.

I've reflowed many an inductor in that area.....I do it even if it's not an issue.......tight place to get a hot iron in....

I just had a bit of thought.......(sticky bit on?) maybe pics of all models. Maybe Thinkwiki.org would be interested....... or a Sticky!?

I'm sure there are members willing to donate their board pics.

Just a thought, hosting would be my primary concern.

AllTPedOut · #13 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 9:30 am

This may sound a bit noobish, but can I get to the voltage regulator by removing only the components on top (ie keyboard, palmrest bezel, etc) or is this really going to be a complete strip down? I'm asking only so I know how much time I need to set aside to "look for Waldo"!

many thanks!

phool@round · #14 Post by **phool@round** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:15 pm

Your welcome!

If you want to take a quick look, sure only the top needs to be removed but....(if in fact it is the problem) the system board will have to be removed to use a soldering iron. Besides my second suggestion will require the entire board to be removed anyways. (bottom inductors)

Might as well go for it at this point, it's in a non-running state and maybe something else will become self evident. Never know.

I buy alot of non running T23's and repair them, even password protected. Your in good hands Columbus, time to way' anchor and let the discovering begin.

By the way.....have you owned this laptop for awhile and it just developed this issue or did you just recently purchase it?

#15 Post by **rkawakami** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:18 pm

To get to the inductor that's at A1/A2 in my map, you need to pull off the keyboard and fan/heat sink assembly at the very least. You may also need to take the keyboard bezel off as the soldering iron might hit up against it while you perform the surgery.

AllTPedOut · #16 Post by **AllTPedOut** » Wed Oct 03, 2007 12:48 pm

Phool@round and Ray,

Thanks for the info. I'm printing out the HMM to have handy, just in case, and I'll poke around tonight "to see what I can see" (that was Columbus, right??)

And yeah, this T23 became a project when the person who owned it said " It doesn't work, I can't use it, and here, you can play with it!"

Like I said, if I can't get this going, it's mix and match time with the other T2x in stockpile!

Stay tuned! (And a very grateful thanks again)

phool@round · #17 Post by **phool@round** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:27 am

Wondering how it goes.......? Had time to diddle with your fiddle yet? Just cruising through and thought I'd drop a line, if nothing else then this is just a Howdy Do!

T23 does not power up!!

T23 does not power up!!

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